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ZAGREB, November 7, 2019 – Ericsson Nikola Tesla (ERNT) on Thursday marked its 70th anniversary and on that occasion, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said that the company had been setting a positive example for the domestic business community for years.
“We can be proud of having such a company in a sector that is crucial for the development of technologies,” Grabar-Kitarović said at the anniversary-marking ceremony, noting that companies like ERNT raised the level of competitiveness of the Croatian economy and that Croatia needed the competence, excellence, innovation and social responsibility that characterised the company.
ERNT president Gordana Kovačević said that the company was the first on the list of domestic exporters of know-how. Its experts contribute to the development of ICT and promote Croatia and its people that way, she said, adding that the company was oriented to the future and creation of new opportunities, that it constantly researched and developed new solutions and that it had become a strong research and development centre.
Kovačević also expressed hope that Croatia’s presidency of the Council of the EU would help create new opportunities for research and development and boost the competitiveness of the ICT sector.
Economy Minister Darko Horvat, who also addressed the event, said that in the last three years 9.8 billion kuna had been invested in research and development, while in 2018 investments totalled 3.7 billion, 18.7% more than the year before.
This year, investments in research and development will amount to 1% of GDP, he said.
The former Nikola Tesla company was founded in Zagreb on 31 October 1949. At the time, it employed 113 workers. Opting for the production of automatic telephone exchanges, in 1953 the company signed a licence agreement with Ericsson thus becoming one of its first licence partners in the world. In the late 1950s, the company started with first exports, to the former Soviet Union.
Since its establishment the company has been one of the biggest suppliers of telecommunications solutions in Central and Eastern Europe.
In the early 1990s more intensive activities were launched to transform and privatise the until then socially-owned company. Eventually Ericsson and the Croatian Privatisation Fund in 1995 signed an agreement on the sale of a 49.07% stake in Nikola Tesla, which made Ericsson its biggest single owner.
Small shareholders obtained ownership of 49.98% of the company’s shares while the Croatian Privatisation Fund kept the ownership of a 0.95% interest.
In the last 20 years ERNT has built its reputation as a supplier of modern ICT products, solutions, software and services and it has operated, on an equal footing with other members of Ericsson, in the field of modern communications technologies and creation of global communications trends.
ERNT is a leading domestic ICT company employing more than 3,200 mostly highly educated workers. More than 1,500 of its employees work in the biggest domestic research and development centre. ERNT is the leading exporter in the country.
According to its latest financial report, in the first nine months of 2019 ERNT earned HRK 80.8 million in consolidated net profits, an increase of 29.6% from the same period of last year.
Sales amounted to 1.25 billion kuna, up 16% from the same period of last year. Domestic sales accounted for 24.4% of total revenues, services for Ericsson accounted for 60.6% while exports to other markets accounted for 15% of total revenues.
More news about Ericsson NT can be found in the Business section.


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Here's a novel idea: make a mess, you pay for it. It's a message that the state of Maine is sending to large companies.
This month, Maine passed a law that makes companies pay for the packaging waste they create, and nearly a dozen states are now on track to follow suit.
Related: Bahamas Plastic Movement founder wins Goldman Environmental Prize
The new Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging law aims to increase recycling rates, reduce packaging pollution and save taxpayers money.
The concept may be a new idea in the United States, but it's actually been around in Europe for decades.
Related: Can UK communities go 'plastic free' with cultural shift?
Scott Cassel, CEO and founder of the Product Stewardship Institute in Boston, discusses the law with The World's host Marco Werman.
Marco Werman: So, what exactly does this new law require companies to do? What do you hope the outcome is going to be?
Scott Cassel: Well, in essence, it requires producers to take greater responsibility for products and the packaging that they put onto the marketplace. So, from a very basic level, there is a shift in cost from the municipalities and the taxpayers to the producers who put these products onto the marketplace.
So, for example, the company ships out a tiny widget in a giant box and that company's product is sold in Maine. What consequences would that company face?
They will be charged for the material and then there will be extra charges for materials that have extra cost for the recycling system. So, for example, if it is a plastic that has very few markets, they're going to be paying more to put that onto the marketplace. If they put less packaging out to the market, if they have refillable containers, if they have reusable containers or highly recyclable containers, they're actually going to pay a lot less for those materials.
Nearly every country in the European Union has a similar law to the one just passed in Maine. What has been the impact on the amount of recycling and waste there?
Well, there's been a great evolution over the years. In 1994, they started with a Europeanwide directive. Over time, there's been a number of different iterations of that directive that have increased the collection and recycling targets over time, incentives to change the design of packaging. And it has even gone into reducing the environmental and social impacts on non-EU countries where some of this packaging material is processed. Here in the United States, we're at an average rate of 32% across the country for packaging recycling. Nearly all the participating EU countries that have these types of programs reach at least 60%, with many reaching 70%-80%. One individual I have to call out is Joachim Quoden, who's the managing director of an organization called EXPRA. They manage, or oversee, all of the European nonprofit organizations that implement these programs.
You alluded to this earlier. We've seen a number of countries either limit or stop altogether, receiving any recycled trash from the US because a lot of it is not recyclable. China did that not long ago. Is that trend also driving laws like the one Maine passed?
Absolutely. The restriction of our recyclables being accepted in China has definitely catapulted this to the top of the political agenda because the costs have increased so significantly for municipalities. The reduced market means that most of that material has to be disposed of. Many municipalities around the country have had to cut back on what they're collecting, or some have even stopped their programs altogether. The restriction of the materials being accepted has definitely influenced the number of bills that we're seeing around the country, and that has gotten the producers to the table to start discussions about how these systems can work for them.
I'm curious —your contact mentor in Germany, who has helped you in your work in the US, what was his reaction when he learned you had succeeded with this law in Maine?
Well, he sent me an email and he said, "Scott, is this really true!" exclamation point. I think there were three of them, because he and I have been going back and forth on this for a very long time, and Europe has started this program in 1990 with the German program. And here we're just getting to it in 2021.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

domain: news


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|Bid||9.12 x 0|
|Ask||9.13 x 0|
|Day's Range||9.11 - 9.39|
|52 Week Range||5.29 - 16.24|
|Beta (3Y Monthly)||1.51|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||N/A|
|Earnings Date||Feb 27, 2019 - Mar 4, 2019|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||N/A (N/A)|
|1y Target Est||13.70|
GMP Securities Cautions Investors on Canopy GrowthGMP Cautions Investors Amid the chorus of upgrades for Canopy Growth (WEED)(CGC) this morning, GMP Securities decided to take an opposite stance, cautioning investors with a downgrade to “hold”
Key Takeaways from Canopy Growth's Q3 Earnings Call(Continued from Prior Part)Lower pricing During the earnings call, Canopy Growth (WEED) stated that it experienced lower medical sales in terms of kilogram equivalents due to shifting resources
PI Financial, CIBC, Cormark Upgrade Canopy Growth Price TargetsPrice target upgrades Canopy Growth (WEED)(CGC) was gaining in the early morning session with a 2.5% change as of 9:43 AM ET after the company received price target upgrades. Firms that
Key Takeaways from Canopy Growth's Q3 Earnings Call(Continued from Prior Part)Retail During the third-quarter earnings call, Canopy Growth (WEED) (CGC) stated that it thinks consumers want the experience of visiting physical retail stores, which
IIPR, GTBIF, ITHUF: Key Updates from Last Week(Continued from Prior Part)Innovative Industrial Properties to offer exchangeable senior notes On February 15, 2019, Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) made an announcement that through its operating
Canaccord Genuity Raises Price Target for Canopy GrowthCanaccord Genuity raises price target On February 18, Canopy Growth (WEED) received a price target upgrade from Canaccord Genuity after the company reported its Q3 earnings on February 14.
IIPR, GTBIF, ITHUF: Key Updates from Last WeekGreen Thumb Industries closes acquisition of Advanced Grow Lab In a press release on February 12, Green Thumb Industries (GTBIF) announced that it had closed the acquisition of Advanced Grow Labs (AGL), a
And what to look forward to based on the big Canadian marijuana growers' latest quarterly results.
Cannabis Sector Gained after CGC's and ACB's Earnings Last WeekCannabis sector was up last week In the week that ended on February 15, the cannabis sector ended in the positive territory, with the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF (HMMJ) gaining
Both Canopy Growth Corp (TSX:WEED)(NYSE:CGC) and Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB) released earnings last week. Which did better?
Should investors worry as one of Aurora Cannabis Inc.'s (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB) revenue generating subsidiaries suddenly report zero quarterly revenue?
Two of the biggest Canadian marijuana companies provided quarterly updates last week. Their results could be good news for other marijuana stocks, too.
Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB) showed strong growth in its latest quarterly results, but is that enough to make the stock a buy?
Aurora Cannabis (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB) is still underperforming but the potential to become the top weed stock is still there.
Marijuana industry behemoths Canopy Growth Corp (TSX:WEED)(NYSE:CGC) and Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB) reported solid earnings. Which stock is the better buy?
This top marijuana stock reported sales grew at a breakneck pace last quarter, but that may only be the beginning.


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On September 29, 2015, Google revealed the latest mobile operating system Marshmallow 6.0. Google also took this opportunity to introduce their latest Nexus line ups. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6p. For now, users looking for the latest Android 6.0 experience can only satisfy their curiosity by purchasing anyone of the latest Nexus phones.
Marshmallow 6.0 Features:
The latest update comes with a host of new features Google has introduced for the first time. Along with a more dynamic web experience, it comes with fingerprint support, mobile payment, powerful charging options and better copying and pasting experience. However, there are many other features – worth mentioning – that will we will not discuss. We are only going to list some features we felt were new for the version 6.0 – and not an improvement over the 5.0 version.
Finger Print Locking
For Android M, finger print authentication will not just be used for locking/unlocking phones, it will also be used for payments through Android Pay – be it shopping online or paying for apps on the play store.
Battery life extension
As with any smart phone, lack of battery life is the biggest concerns and battery technology is not progressing fast enough to keep up with users’ demands. To solve battery life issues, Google has introduced ‘Doze’ for Android M. Doze will detect if the device is idle, i.e if the device has been placed on a table or is not being interacted with, all background process will be stopped to save power. However, applications such important notifications and alarms will still function.
Google has reportedly scrapped Google Wallet and replaced it with Android Pay. However, only a handful of merchants have signed up for accepting this new payment method which has to linked to your credit card. Some notable merchants accepting Android pay are Staples, babies R us, coca cola, Walgreens, whole foods, Petco, Macys, Nike and subway to name a few.


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DJI Avata 2 Drone Set For Debut With Official Teaser Hinting at Imminent Launch
In an exciting announcement for drone enthusiasts and FPV aficionados, DJI has recently dropped a stirring teaser hinting at the launch of a new drone, speculated to be the much-anticipated DJI Avata 2. Accompanied by the tagline ‘Ready to Roll’, the teaser has set the drone community abuzz with speculation and eagerness. Mark your calendars for April 11, as the tech giant is expected to unveil the drone at 9 AM EDT / 2 PM BST, which translates to midnight AEST on April 12 for those tuning in from the Australasian region.
The teaser itself, while not explicitly naming the DJI Avata 2, showcases an FPV drone that bears a striking resemblance to the drone depicted in recent leaks. This coincidence has solidified the community’s belief that the DJI Avata 2 will be the star of the upcoming launch event. If so, it signifies DJI’s continued innovation in the FPV drone market, aiming to enhance the immersive flying experience for pilots worldwide.
FPV, or first-person view drones, offer a unique flying perspective compared to their traditional counterparts, such as the DJI Mini 4 Pro. By connecting to a headset, pilots enjoy a live, cockpit view from the drone itself, making for an exhilarating and immersive flying experience. FPV drones are especially popular among drone racers and aerial cinematographers who seek a deeper connection and more control during flight.
The anticipation surrounding the DJI Avata 2 is not just about the drone itself. There is also buzz about a potential new complement to the FPV experience, the DJI Goggles 3. This headset, which is rumored to be announced alongside the Avata 2, promises to elevate the immersive experience of drone piloting to new heights. Given DJI’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of technology and design, the drone community is eagerly awaiting detailed specifications, features, and enhancements that the Avata 2 and Goggles 3 will bring to the table.
With the official teaser now circulating, speculation is rife, but concrete details remain shrouded in mystery. As the launch date approaches, the excitement continues to build. DJI’s upcoming event promises not only to unveil the next evolution in FPV drone technology but also to set new standards in the immersive flying experience. With just a few days left until the big reveal, the drone community is on the edge of its seats, waiting to see what the renowned drone manufacturer has ‘ready to roll’ out.
Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the launch date. Whether you’re a seasoned drone pilot or new to the world of FPV flying, the DJI Avata 2, coupled with the anticipated Goggles 3, is shaping up to be a game-changer in the realm of aerial innovation.


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Kristi King, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Red and green aren’t just the colors of Christmas cheer. They also portray important safety information on electric decorations.
An easy safety tip to remember: Look for a red icon on the decoration. “If it’s a red UL in a circle that means the decoration has been given extra tests like rain tests or cold weather tests to show that it’s suitable for outside use,” says Consumer Safety Director for Underwriters Laboratories(UL) John Drengenberg.
Holiday lights and decorations that should only be used indoors are labeled with a green UL in a circle.
Drengenberg says the holidays can be so distracting and busy we sometimes forget about safety. More than 13,000 people visited emergency rooms during last year’s holiday season according to Drengenberg.
“Not only cutting themselves with ornaments, but falling off ladders, and fires and
Trained as an electrical engineer Drengenberg says even LED light strings that draw less power can cause problems. Bare wires and cracked sockets can present a potential fire hazard or potential electric shock hazard, he says.
Drengenberg recommends inspecting all decorations closely before putting them up. Other recommendations from UL: Never carry items when climbing a ladder. Don’t over-reach. Never route extension cords under carpets or through doors or windows. Pinching the wires can cause them to smolder. Don’t leave outdoor decorations up all year. Never leave a room with a candle burning.
“There are so many fires that occur when people say ‘I just left the room for a minute…and before I knew it the dining room was on fire from my candle on the middle of the table. Things of that type happen all too often.”
Drengenberg says candles cause more than then thousand fires a year and those numbers peak in December.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)


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KYIV -- Move over Lenin, there's a new kid on the blockchain.
An initiative to erect a monument of Satoshi Nakamoto in Ukraine's capital is gaining momentum.
The idea is to place the statue right where a red Karelian stone figure of the Soviet Union's founder, Vladimir Lenin, stood before it was toppled amid Euromaidan unrest more than four years ago. The project would be the first of its kind and is part of a global campaign to honor Satoshi -- the unknown, presumed creator of bitcoin and blockchain technology -- around the world.
"We are engaging in the construction of monuments to the great man who for everyone is a new symbol of freedom," said Andriy Moroz, the Ukrainian co-founder of a group dedicated to erecting monuments to Nakamoto.
"The monument to Lenin was a symbol of last centuries that had already passed, leaving conflicting feelings in the hearts of people. Satoshi and the decentralization of society are a new era and new opportunities," he argued.
True to its cyberroots, the first stage of the process is to create a digital Satoshi statue that would be visible through a smartphone app to be created by Raccoon World, a robotics and virtual reality company.
The app would use a plinth placed at the site to show a virtual statue when a smartphone or similar device such as a computer tablet are directed at it, Pokemon Go-style.
A group called the Satoshi Nakamoto Republic, which is spearheading the campaign, said it plans to file a petition and apply for permission from Kyiv city officials to erect an actual statue at the site.
"In case the permission for the monument installation will be received, it will be erected in Kyiv, on boulevard Shevchenko, on the site of the monument to Lenin," the group said in a statement.
"In case the petition will be declined, the monument to Satoshi Nakamoto will be erected on another location. Now there is a wave of interest on the part of business to erect the monument on one of the territories of the contemporary technological business centers of Kyiv," it added.
Ukraine has become swept up in the cryptocurrency world, with the bitcoin and blockchain industry growing exponentially even as the virtual currency takes a battering this year over security and hacking fears, electricity rates, a drop in transactions, and plain old skepticism.
With average monthly wages of around $250 and cryptocurrencies drawing record acceptance from retailers and relatively mild rebukes from regulators, many Ukrainians have raced to set up bitcoin mining operations where analysts say they can make as much as 10 times that.
Cryptocurrency mining involves using powerful computers to run software for days and weeks on end to complete complicated calculations to help maintain a distributed ledger of transactions recorded in blockchain -- groups of transactions recorded in blocks that are in turn linked to each other to form a chain.
Miners who confirm transactions are rewarded with transaction fees.
The flurry of activity has pushed Ukraine's government, concerned that digital assets may be exploited by criminals and could present a growing national security risk, to create a working group to draft regulations for the industry.
The campaign for a Nakamoto monument got a boost last month when Ukrainian entrepreneur Aleksandr Soroka, creator of Startup Network, an investment platform where entrepreneurs find private investors, donated 1 bitcoin to support the initiative (worth around $6,750 on June 12).
He says that Ukrainians are excited about blockchain technology and the country has a lot of "proactive" people who can build an industry around it.
"But first they need help from parliament and support from people in government, and they aren't getting a whole lot of that right now," Soroka, who became a "Crypto-Angel of Kyiv" with the donation, added.
The regulations can't come quick enough, given the acceleration of the cryptocurrency industry.
Kyiv-based National Credit Bank has created a nationwide network of almost 5,000 payment terminals, called BNK-ATMs, to give easy access to customers looking to buy bitcoin for cash.
The terminals also enable users to pay household bills such as utilities with bitcoin.
Bank officials say they established the network because of growing demand by Ukrainians for a cheaper, safer, and more convenient payment system, especially with regard to overseas e-commerce transactions.


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The resurgence of trade negotiations today between the U.S. and China after several months of inaction has increased hopes throughout financial markets that the impending all-out trade war between the two largest economies in the world may be staved off.
For the first time since June, U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs David Malpass and Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen are due to meet from Wednesday for face-to-face trade discussions. The main topic of discussion during this meeting will be the next round of tariffs set to take effect this Thursday, August 23rd. This round of tariffs will effect nearly $16 billion worth of exports sent between China and the U.S. Also, the two sides will discuss the major points of friction between the global superpowers. These include readjusting trade and intellectual property.
While the act of holding a meeting with such strong economic implications bodes well for future discussions, it should be noted that the talks between Malpass and Shouwen are not expected to solve any major issues. In fact, President Donald Trump himself has lowered expectations for the results of the discussion. Additionally, President Trump has made it a point to discuss his accusations toward Beijing that they manipulated their own currency in order to counteract the effects of the tariffs. Since the two countries last met in May and June, the economy in China, primarily the strength of the yuan, has shown signs of weakness, which, according to President Trump, is an advantageous position for the United States.
Another notable issue is the dichotomy of opinions within the Trump administration on how they should handle the negotiations with China. For example, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin seeks to explore a possible solution through extended negotiations with China. Conversely, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer wishes to increase the amount of pressure that the United States is putting on China. Ligthizer has been one of the main catalysts for the tariffs being implemented.
Furthermore, the $16 billion in products that are slated to be hit on Thursday seem to just the beginning. The United States Trade Representative, USTR, has been holding hearings with plans of an additional $200 billion in imports being targeted as soon as September. While the yuan continues to weaken due to the current tariffs, there is speculation that the delegates from China may pledge to not let the currency devalue as long as the two sides continue negotiations.


text: Amazon plans to open new headquarters in Long Island City, NY, and Crystal City, VA. The company announced the official decision today after nearly a year-long worldwide search. A New Hampshire judge is ordering Amazon to send prosecutors audio recorded on an Echo device for use as evidence in a double homicide case. Former First Lady Michelle Obama hits the road today to celebrate the release of her new book, 'Becoming,' which hits stores today. And Celine Dion is launching a new gender-neutral children's clothing company, CELINUNUNU.


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Collaboration and Engineering in Our New Normal
How are engineers around the world staying productive and efficient amid the challenges and constraints brought about by the pandemic?
Designing, building, and testing complex products require a high level of collaboration, computing power, and face-to-face interaction. Because of the pandemic, this has become challenging for engineers around the world.
“Being able to engage directly with another nearby designer and ask ‘what do you think about this’ can make the difference between spending an hour or a day to resolve a challenging issue,” Thomas Fowler, vice president of engineering, Silicon Labs, shared with EE Times Asia.
As COVID-19 changes the way we live and work, engineers are turning to digital tools and the Internet of Things (IoT) to sustain their productivity amid the pandemic.
Cloud-based design tools
Engineers require high computational power and graphics-heavy computer-aided design (CAD) software to accomplish their tasks.
Because of this, simulation and visualization design tools are normally used by engineers on-premises. Many engineering organizations have delayed shifting to a cloud-based model because of privacy and security concerns for intellectual property.
The pandemic has changed that mindset, with the usage of and demand for cloud-based design tools and remote collaboration platforms rising.
“We’re definitely seeing increased interest and usage at a professional level,” said David Katzman, Head of Customer Experience and Strategy for Onshape, a cloud-based CAD platform.
“People are just starting to wrap their head around this so it takes some time,” Katzman told Digital Engineering.
Specializing in product development, mechanical engineer Kay Yang has accelerated her use of digital design tools because of the pandemic. She sees digital adoption happening more quickly in the design and prototyping of a product. “We’re in Los Angeles, so we can’t physically meet and evaluate a prototype together, so we evaluate things digitally,” Yang shared with The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). When physical prototypes are required, Yang’s team makes a 3D-printing file of the prototype.
Outsourcing prototypes is a convenient option for engineers, with many companies capable of building a prototype from a CAD design and shipping it to the customer. Jonah Myerberg, Chief Technology Officer of Desktop Metal, shared with the ASME that his team launched a website that “prints 3D metal components for mission-critical COVID-19 applications for free.”
The Internet of Things for product evaluation and monitoring
While the use of IoT in product development is not new, the engineering industry has been slow to adopt the technology, says Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, chief executive officer at Instrumental Inc.
With physical distancing and lockdown measures making remote work our new reality, that way of thinking may change in order to sustain product development and equipment maintenance.
To minimize the need for on-site engineers during the build process, Instrumental Inc. places IoT sensors and other instruments to capture product data and record images. The information can then be accessed by the company in the cloud, on a file transfer protocol (FTP) server, or at the company’s local site.
Recounting a build event for a tech company, Shedletsky says that IoT sensors enabled an engineer based in Chicago to spot a tooling issue during a build event in China—saving the company significant amounts of money, time, and resources.
Industrial assets are also being connected and streaming information to the cloud, according to Oliver Pauzet, vice-president of product and IoT solutions for Sierra Wireless.
“IoT and digitization are not new, but I will say COVID-19 has accelerated that trend,” Pauzet told the ASME. “It’s making a lot of equipment manufacturers realize they need that connection. In the past, they could go into the field to check on their industrial assets or perform regularly scheduled maintenance.”
Real-time feedback from sensors and other instruments in the field enables manufacturers to collect important data and identify—even anticipate—equipment failure.
“Rather than sending someone out in the field to fix a nonworking asset, they can see the digital twin of each of their assets operating in the cloud and detect if something is going to go wrong,” Pauzet said. “Without IoT, they have no view at all. They just have to wait to get a call saying something doesn’t work.”
Embracing the downtime
Working from home may be the perfect opportunity to step back and evaluate how you do your job—to streamline your process or be more thoughtful and deliberate in your approach. Slowing down could lead you to your next bright idea.
“Instead of rushing to create a prototype, I’m now spending more time taking a research perspective, and looking at different ways we might approach a particular design,” Matt Kuhn, a project leader at the Center for Device Innovation (CDI) in Houston, Texas, shared with the ASME.
“You never know where innovation is going to come from—or who it is going to come from,” Myerberg of Desktop Metal said. “But, as engineers, we’re used to working within certain constraints. We always find a way to figure it out. There’s no reason why we can’t figure it out in this situation, too.”
This combination of downtime and digital tools could be a winning combination that unlocks a new wave of innovation in engineering.
As one of the Top 20 EMS companies in the world, IMI has over 40 years of experience in providing electronics manufacturing and technology solutions.
At IMI, we believe that humanity drives technology, and we direct our passion at solutions that enhance our way of living. With more than 400,000 square meters of factory space in 22 factories across 10 countries, we are positioned to build your business on a global scale.
Our proven technical expertise, worldwide reach, and vast experience in high-growth and emerging markets make us the ideal global manufacturing solutions partner.
Let's work together to build our future today.


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Yesterday, we recounted the top five grocery store closings that had a significant impact on the Houston supermarket scene during the past 10 years. But for as much as we may (or may not) miss AppleTree or Albertson's, we've had some much better grocery stores head our way since then.
In the April-May 2009 edition of My Table magazine, our friend Matthew Dresden spoke to the dramatic changes that Houston has seen since the opening of the very first Kroger in 1955: Fiesta Mart to Super H Mart, Mi Tienda to 99 Ranch -- Houston is now not only a multi-cultural city in terms of population, but in terms of supermarkets to serve that population. More than that, we've also seen the market share shift forcefully from the domination of Kroger and Randall's to the omnipresent H-E-B, which didn't exist in Houston until the early '90s. It's a testament, in fact, to the Texas-based chain's strong presence that three of the five spots on this list are devoted to various H-E-B ventures. With that in mind, here are the five biggest grocery store openings of the last ten years.
H-E-B: Yes, the San Antonio stores first opened locations in Houston in 1992. However, those locations were H-E-B Pantry stores, few of which are still left in the city. The move into the Houston market was considered a difficult one, and investors felt that the company was taking a huge risk. However, opening smaller stores at first -- the Pantry stores are so named for their compact design and basic offerings -- allowed the Houston community to familiarize themselves with the new grocery stores. By the time the first real, full-sized H-E-Bs opened in Houston in 2001, the chain had become a huge hit. With the opening of the vast 125,000-square-foot store on Bunker Hill in 2008 and the Buffalo Market this year, H-E-B cemented its market presence even further. The chain still has a long way to go, however -- Wal-Mart continues to dominate the Houston market with a 29 percent market share, with Kroger a close second at 25 percent.


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LogMeIn to spin off password manager LastPass as a separate company
LogMeIn Inc. today announced that it plans to spin off its password manager LastPass as a separate company.
The decision, coming two years after LogMeIn was acquired by Francisco Partners Management and Elliott Management’s Evergreen affiliate for $4.3 billion, is said to allow LastPass to increase focus, investment and support for its business. LastPass was previously acquired by LogMeIn for $110 million in 2015.
Coming into its spinoff as a separate company, LastPass is a leader in so-called zero-knowledge password management, with 30 million users and 85,000 businesses. A significant majority of LastPass’ business is represented by paying corporate customers, in contrast to millions of consumers who can use the service for free.
LastPass allows users to generate, secure and share credentials seamlessly and monitor personal information on the dark web. The service provides insight and control for information technology teams with a comprehensive, actionable administration console and policy configurations. LastPass claims to improve security for businesses further by reducing credentials through simplified access with single sign-on and passwordless multifactor authentication to cloud and legacy applications, virtual private networks and workstations.
Following the spinoff, LastPass plans to deliver an accelerated development timeline, including faster, seamless save and fill, an enhanced mobile experience and additional third-party integrations for business, among other updates. Support channels will be expanded and LastPass will also be launching a new look and feel on its website.
“The success we’ve seen across the entire LogMeIn portfolio over the last 18 months proves there is a vast growth opportunity ahead for both LastPass and LogMeIn,” Andrew Kowal, a partner at Francisco Partners, said in a statement. “We assessed our portfolio with a laser focus on unlocking the full potential of our business and identifying how we could best serve customers and accelerate growth across very different markets.”
A message from John Furrier, co-founder of SiliconANGLE:
Show your support for our mission by joining our Cube Club and Cube Event Community of experts. Join the community that includes Amazon Web Services and Amazon.com CEO Andy Jassy, Dell Technologies founder and CEO Michael Dell, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and many more luminaries and experts.
We really want to hear from you, and we’re looking forward to seeing you at the event and in theCUBE Club.


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Destructoid just left the Nintendo press conference, with tons of video footage to post for those of you who want to missed the live stream (or just want to watch it again). I'm sitting with Jim Sterling, Chad Concelmo and Hollie Bennett, and we're all completely floored, and a lot of that is because of the Zelda HD mock up footage running on the Wii U.
Like the Space World demo of Legend of Zelda Gamecube of old, there is absolutely no indication that thi mock up will ever become a "real" game, but for now, we can absorb this message -- Zelda HD will happen, and it will look f*cking awesome, and you'll be able to hold it in your arms and cuddle it all night if you so choose.
More to come as soon as we can get it.
[*].disqus.comto your security software's whitelist.


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The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the City of Victoria and dismissed a legal challenge to the City’s Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw brought by the Canadian Plastic Bag Association.
The bylaw will ban all businesses from giving out or selling plastic bags, and impose a minimum charge of 15 cents for paper bags, and $1 for reusable bags as alternative choices.
The association had claimed the ban would “significantly impact” its members who manufacture and supply bags for the Victoria market, and lobbied against the move in January.
The B.C. Supreme Court decision was released Tuesday.
“I find no evidence of bad faith in this case,” ruled Justice Nathan Smith in a statement. “Although some members of council may have been motivated by broad environmental concerns, council’s attention was properly drawn to ways in which discarded plastic bags impact municipal facilities and services. Council decided that those issues could be addressed by prohibiting a specific form of consumer transaction.”
The City was happy with the decision and is keeping July 1 as the effective date for the bylaw.
“The City is very pleased that the Court has confirmed our ability to regulate checkout bags,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. “This decision represents an important step in moving away from unsustainable business practices that create high volumes of waste and litter in our community.”
For more information on the bylaw you can visit victoria.ca/reusablebags.


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Nothing yesterday said it will make an announcement tomorrow, which it confirmed in a tweet via its Twitter handle. The tweet said ‘Announcement tomorrow’, with an image showing the bottom section of a smartphone with two grilles, one mic and a USB-C port. There is also text saying ‘(1) more thing’. Hence we can expect to see an announcement surrounding a new smartphone.
Now today the brand as promised made the announcement via its Twitter handle. Welcome the new smartphone from the young brand dubbed Another (1). The brand is advertising it as a phone that you’ve seen a phone like this before which seems like a different approach.
The brand further adds “Experience edge-to-edge monotony. It’s inspiringly uninspired. Utterly unoriginal. And exactly the same as everything else.”, which definitely isn’t something you get to hear everyday.
The company is going with the tagline “Oh. So. Boring” to promote the smartphone. The company also reveals that the phone is coming soon.
Say hello to just Another (1).— Another (@nothing) April 1, 2022
You’ve seen a phone just like this before.
Experience edge-to-edge monotony. It’s inspiringly uninspired. Utterly unoriginal. And exactly the same as everything else.
Coming to bore you soon.https://t.co/pLWW07l8G7 pic.twitter.com/2FHHI5ELr1
The image tagging along the announcement showcases the phone. The back panel houses the camera island with a triple camera setup. The bottom section of the back has the Another (1) branding and it seems to be curved on both right and left edges, while the top and bottom are sharp and flat. We can also see the bottom frame which as aforementioned houses two grilles, one mic and USB-C port. The left side of the frame is home to the volume rockers and seemingly what seems to be the power button. We say so since the left side also has a button.
The front panel is equipped with a display that’s covered with curved glass, with the glass curving on right and left sides. The selfie camera sits in the top-left corner in a small box-like extension. The fingerprint scanner is nowhere to be seen on the outside, neither on the back nor as the power button. So we can assume it to be sitting under the display.
We don’t have details surrounding the specs, so we expect to hear about them in the upcoming days ahead of the launch.
- 2 million units of Realme GT Master Edition in 12 months
- Samsung rolling out Android 12 based One UI 4.1 for its Galaxy M11
- OnePlus 10 RT bags certification from Indian authority
- OnePlus finally released the Android 12 for OnePlus 7 and 7T
- Flipkart teased the Infinix Note 12 5G series with 108MP camera and AMOLED display


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When Microsoft launched Xbox in November 2001, the console shipped with an enormous controller called The Duke. A year later, the smaller "Controller S" replaced it. When a Twitter follower asked Xbox co-creator Sheamus Blackley for insight into the creation of The Duke, Blackley obliged with alacrity by posting a series of tweets.
"The guy in charge of the controller picked a vendor that couldn't make the electronics small, so they made the design huge to fit around it," he said. "The Dreamcast was our favorite console at the time, and it had a big controller that docked a tomagachi. So that made [the size of our controller] seem less insane."
Japanese gamers balked at the enormity of The Duke, which was awkward to hold with their smaller hands. Microsoft responded by releasing Controller S.
Although Blackley understands that many players found The Duke comfortable, he was against the decision to release such an unwieldy product. " It was embarrassingly enormous; politically I had no juice to fix it. They ignored focus tests; I understand you can land a helicopter on it."
Blackley ended his reverie in good humor. "Sorry to vent about Duke, it's just that I took such a volume of shit about it back in the day, I need to let go!"
Several ex-Microsoft developers have been reflecting on the original Xbox as of late. In June, co-creator Ed Fries recalled the day Bill Gates almost cut the legs out from under the concept of manufacturing a console before it could get off the ground.


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The Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC) today released the ELC Platform Specification (ELCPS), aimed at rallying the industry around a
single Linux development standard for new embedded products. The specification delivers a unified open platform for embedded operating systems,
rewarding developers by substantially decreasing the time and expense needed to add differentiating value to their applications.
February 19, 2003


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SLEEPING WITH SIRENS back with new “Leave It All Behind”
Now we know the story of why all of the members of Sleeping With Sirens deleted all of their Instagram content. The post hardcore collective is leaning towards a new and banging era with the release of their brand new song “Leave It All Behind” which is part of their brand new album How It Feels To Be Lost which will be released in September this year.
The band, fronted by by Kellin Quin, also released the music video of their brand new track. Check it out:


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Forget about fingerprint readers, retinal displays or edge-to-edge screens. There is one innovation that computer users have been waiting for since the first office worker decided to eat at their desk, and it could soon be here: crumb-proof keyboards.
Apple has excited its user base in a manner usually reserved for the latest iPhone after filing a patent for a keyboard that can survive lunch aldesko.
For the legions of MacBook users sipping lattes in coffee shops around the world it also offers a spill-proof version.
The patent describes different keyboard designs to “prevent contaminant ingress”. Some versions contain skirts or flaps that protect the edges of keys, a little like the spraydeck on a kayak. Others have brushes or wipers — while one ambitious design has “bellows that blast contaminants with forced gas”.
Users have complained that the latest MacBook is prone to sticky keys from dirt or crumbs in the keyboard. This is in part because its keys depress less than a millimetre, leaving far less clearance if something gets caught.
Although technology companies routinely file patents that never turn into products, there is hope that the company has recognised those problems and is looking for ways to solve them.
There are already keyboards that claim to be waterproof but most are made of silicone rubber and don’t have the feel of a normal keyboard.
Food contamination is a big enough problem that numerous websites offer cleaning advice, ranging from holding it upside down and shaking to using compressed air canisters.
A crumb-free laptop would be particularly welcome in the Americas, where the “crazy ant” has spread from Brazil. It has been able to extend its range thanks to a new and fertile biological niche — the holes between keys and the plentiful supply of food found within.
A study by Which? suggested that in eating crumbs the ants may even be performing a service. The consumer group hired a microbiologist to swab keyboards and found that, largely thanks to decomposing food, more than 10 per cent harboured so much dangerous bacterial life that they were regarded as a health hazard.
The new keyboards may provide a less radical solution than cutting out eating at your desk for germ-conscious, but conscientious, workers.


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Plano, TX, April 24, 2023 — Critical Start, a leading provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) cybersecurity solutions, today announced a new partnership with Lenovo aimed at enhancing security within the company’s Digital Workplace Solutions (DWS) Group. Under the terms of the partnership, Lenovo will utilize Critical Start’s MDR services to help their customers reduce cybersecurity risk associated with security breaches by enhancing their technology investments with cutting-edge Managed Detection and Response capabilities.
“We are thrilled to partner with Lenovo to help organizations defend against today’s sophisticated cyber threats,” said Randy Watkins, Chief Technology Officer at Critical Start. “Our MDR services are designed to provide customers with the greatest amount of risk reduction per dollar spent by resolving every alert ingested within contractual service level agreements. By integrating with Lenovo’s Digital Workplace Solutions, we are delivering a complete security solution that will help organizations avoid business disruption by preventing breaches.”
Critical Start MDR services deliver 24x7x365 monitoring, investigation, and response to help security teams protect their organizations and enhance team productivity. Powered by its Zero- Trust Analytics Platform® (ZTAP®), Critical Start’s services integrate seamlessly with multiple industry-leading security technologies, helping organizations of all sizes stay a step ahead of adversaries. The company’s MOBILESOC® app, available on iOS and Android, provides customers with the flexibility to mitigate threats from anywhere, untethered from a PC. With Critical Start’s services integrated into DWS, Lenovo customers will have access to a comprehensive security solution that includes endpoint protection, managed SIEM, threat intelligence, and incident response capabilities.
“Providing highly secure products and solutions is core to Lenovo DNA and our Digital Workplace Solutions fully embrace that philosophy,” said Raghav Raghunathan, General Manager Lenovo Digital Workplace Solutions. “We are excited to partner with Critical Start — a company with a proven track record of delivering effective security services — to help protect our customers against cyber threats. By integrating Critical Start’s MDR services into our Digital Workplace Solutions, we are providing our customers with a security solution that is tailored to their organization’s needs,” said Pamela Cawthorn, Sr. Director DWS Cybersecurity portfolio.
“By leveraging MDR services, organizations can take advantage of an as-a-service model to enhance their security capabilities by identifying and responding to threats in real-time. Lenovo’s ThinkShield security platform now provides our customers with the ability to leverage MDR services, partnered with Critical Start.” – Nima Baiati, Executive Director/GM, Cybersecurity Solutions/ThinkShield, Lenovo
About Critical Start
Critical Start simplifies breach prevention by delivering the most effective managed detection and incident response services powered by the Zero-Trust Analytics Platform® (ZTAP®) with the industry’s only Trusted Behavior Registry™ (TBR) and MOBILESOC®. With 24x7x365 expert security analysts, and Cyber Research Unit (CRU), we monitor, investigate and remediate alerts swiftly and effectively, via contractual Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for Time to Detection (TTD) and Median Time to Resolution (MTTR), and 100% transparency into our service. Critical Start maintains a longstanding commitment to ensuring customer and partner data privacy and data sovereignty. For more information, visit criticalstart.com. Follow Critical Start on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$70 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #171 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 82,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company by further expanding into key growth areas including server, storage, mobile, solutions and services. This transformation together with Lenovo’s world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and sustainable digital society for everyone, everywhere. To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.
CRITICALSTART® and MOBILESOC® are federally registered trademarks owned by Critical Start. Critical Start also claims trademark rights in the following: Cyber Operations Risk & Response™ platform, and Trusted Behavior Registry®. Any unauthorized use is expressly prohibited.


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Unilever Plc (UL) announced that its CEO Paul Polman was planning to retire, effective January 1, and that Alan Jope, president of the beauty and personal care division, would succeed him. Polman, who served as CEO for 10 years, will stay on for the first half of 2019 to ensure a smooth transition and will leave in July. The company is yet to name a replacement for Jope.
Polman is credited with bringing about meaningful change at Unilever that helped the company gain a significant competitive edge and drive good shareholder returns. Under Polman, Unilever had fought off a takeover attempt by Kraft-Heinz last year.
However, Polman’s plan to shift the company’s headquarters from the UK to the Netherlands in an attempt to simplify its structure met with strong objections from investors and the idea was dropped. Now his successor Alan Jope will have the task of dealing with the impacts of Brexit.
Meanwhile, Unilever is said to be in talks with GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) to buy its nutrition business, which includes the malted drink brand Horlicks. Horlicks enjoys a strong position in India which gives it significant value.
Like several other companies, Unilever is making changes to its portfolio in order to tackle shifts in consumer preferences and heavy competition. The company is focusing on its profitable businesses and offloading its weaker units in order to drive growth. The purchase of Horlicks could strengthen Unilever’s presence in India, which is seen as a lucrative market by many Western companies who are increasing their investments in the country.
Over the past three months, Unilever’s shares have dropped over 5%. As of 12:30 pm ET, the stock was down 0.75%.
Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) Wednesday said its fourth-quarter revenues and profit increased in double-digits amid elevated demand. The results also topped the Street view, driving the stock higher during the
Nutanix (NASDAQ: NTNX) reported second quarter 2021 earnings results today. Total revenue remained flat at $346.4 million compared to the same period a year ago. GAAP net loss was $287.3
Shares of Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) were down 2.7% in morning trade on Wednesday. The stock has gained 37% since the beginning of the year. A day ago, the retailer


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Sneaker culture is an impenetrable and occasionally confusing fortress of young men and strong opinions; to the untrained eye, a sneaker is a sneaker is a sneaker. Today, though, I think it’s safe to say that these new LeBrons—designed by women, for women—are objectively hideous.
Lonzo Ball returned to Las Vegas Summer League action last night, but not in his much-ballyhooed Big Baller Brand ZO2s. No, he was wearing a purple pair of Kobe A.D. sneakers. Yes, they kind of look similar to the BBB ZO2.
Yesterday, LaVar and Lonzo Ball unveiled the ZO2—the first sneaker from the semi-eponymous Big Baller Brand. The Balls came out with their own kicks because every major sneaker company had passed on signing Lonzo Ball, who is expected to be a high first-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft.


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Williams had her whole face, hands, penis and ass (in doggystyle position) molded for a signature line to be released beginning in January, Doc Johnson’s Rebecca Weinberg told XBIZ.
“We are also developing other toys that are not molds but are based on Wendy,” Weinberg said.
Williams told XBIZ it was a surreal experience and an accolade that reflects several years of hard work.
“It’s finally paying off,” Williams said. “The last couple of years have been great — I received an AVN award, this year the XBIZ Transsexual Performer of the Year award and now a novelty line.”
Weinberg said that Williams’ success is what prompted the launch of her line of toys.
“She really stood out,” Weinberg said. “Her experience, longevity, popularity and willingness to move forward and market her brand all contribute to a personality we want to represent.
“We really strive to go after the cream of the crop — the ‘it’ girl, and Wendy is definitely the ‘it’ girl of her genre. She has a following that really shows she’s on top of her game.”
Williams’ fans posted messages of support while the molding process took place on Twitter, she said.
“The Twitter response was amazing,” Williams said. “We posted lots of live photos of the event that got tons of comments.”
Williams will play a major role in designing her products and their packaging and so far has pink, bedazzled characteristics in mind.
“Everything will be extremely personalized,” she said. “The photos on the packaging will vary from product to product instead of them all having the same one — all kinds of fun things!”


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Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF) reported a disappointing first quarter as more consumers shift their spending to online shops and fast-fashion chains. For the period ended April 30, New Albany, Ohio-based Abercrombie lost $39.6 million, or 59 cents per share. This was more than the 50 cents per share loss estimated by analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research. A year ago, Abercrombie reported a first-quarter loss of $63.2 million, or 91 cents per share.
The company reported that revenue declined 3.4 percent, to $685.5 million from $709.4 million in the same quarter last year. Wall Street analysts expected revenue of $705.9 million for the quarter. Shares fell 11 percent in premarket trading. Abercrombie stock has declined 7 percent in 2016.
Sales fell for the 13th straight quarter as customer traffic to its stores dropped. The company reported that sales at Abercrombie stores open at least a year fell 8 percent, while sales were flat at the company’s Hollister chain. Comparable sales at Abercrombie’s international stores open at least a year slumped 7 percent in the first quarter.
Abercrombie has been hit hard by changing consumer preferences, declining mall traffic and fierce competition from cheaper retailers. Since the Great Recession, the company has been losing favor with their core demographic. It is not the only retailer grappling with these challenging market conditions. Persistent weak sales have forced rivals Aeropostale, American Apparel and Pacific Sunwear of California to file for bankruptcy in the past year.
To reverse the trend, Abercrombie & Fitch is making a number of changes to its brand and stores. The company has pulled back on promotions and is now selling more merchandise at full price. It has also been remodeling its Hollister stores and hiring designers from top brands to keep up with trends. Abercrombie is also looking to reduce its footprint with plans to close up to 60 stores this year.
Abercrombie has been operating without a chief executive for over a year now. Since former CEO Mike Jeffries departed in December 2014, the company has been run by an office of the chairman, which includes Executive Chairman Arthur Martinez. The company recently named Target Corp. veteran Stacia Andersen and Victoria’s Secret veteran Kristin Scott to run the Abercrombie and Hollister brands, respectively. Hollister brand President Fran Horowitz was recently promoted to the role of company president and chief merchandising officer. She is also seen as a top candidate for the CEO job.


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Rep. Rebecca McBeath is sponsoring a 2018 bill that would prevent restaurants from offering soda as part of children's meals.
The bill states:
"the beverages offered shall be limited to milk or a non-dairy milk alternative, 100 percent juice or fruit juice combined with water or carbonated water with no added caloric sweetness, water, sparkling water, or flavored water with no added natural or artificial sweeteners."
If a customer requests a soda for a child, the restaurant may provide the soda separately.
Supporters of the bill point out that soda and other sugary drinks contribute to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. If children are encouraged to choose healthier beverages, it will improve their health in the short and long term.
Many major restaurant chains - including McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, and Applebee's - have voluntarily committed to removing soda as the default choice for children's meals.
Opponents of the bill argue it is a perfect example of "nanny state" legislation. Parents already have the power to choose what their children order from restaurants, so there is no reason to take away options.
Opponents also argue that if restaurants are voluntarily removing soda from children's meals, there is no reason for government to intervene.
Do you think New Hampshire should only allow restaurants to offer health drinks with children's meals? Let us know in the comments below.


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The U.S. auto industry is on a roll, setting a second consecutive sales record last year. But now it faces potential headwinds from a Trump administration seemingly ready to unwind trade agreements and slap tariffs on Mexican assembled vehicles and auto parts.
Such a move could increase automotive manufacturing expenses and upend how the global business is organized.
As president of General Motors North American operations, Alan Batey’s job is to keep vehicles selling briskly and to navigate an increasingly complicated economic and political environment.
Batey sat down with Trucks.com recently to discuss whether auto sales can climb higher, if fuel economy rules will ease and how GM is going to approach the new administration. Here is an edited version of the conversation.
Americans bought a record 17.5 million vehicles last year. Are we at peak autos for sales here in the U.S.?
I was one of the guys who was most optimistic last year and said that I thought it could be another all-time record or that we would get very close. The other thing you hear is that the market is plateauing. That always makes me smile because we are plateauing at the highest market we have ever seen.
I think that 2017 will either be another record or it will be very close. Expect fuel prices to stay low and I think that General Motors will be well positioned to capitalize on that.
Americans purchased about 2.7 million pickup trucks last year. If we aren’t yet at peak sales for the overall market, how about for the truck segment?
I am expecting the market to continue to grow in 2017. In 2016 we lost a bit of sales because our factories were running at three shifts max and frankly, we just couldn’t produce any more trucks. With low fuel prices, there will be a continued move to crossovers, SUVs and trucks.
Those segments accounted for almost 60 percent of auto sales last year. With that type of movement, what is going to happen to the sedan?
If you look at the midsize passenger car, it is still worth 2 million worth sales a year. It’s still a massive segment. Compact cars are very close to that. We have seen the large car segment fall off. There will remain key segments for passenger cars and they are not going to go away any time soon. Things can change very quickly. We try to hedge our bets and make sure we cover the market. There are a lot of external factors that you can’t control so things are really difficult to predict. Fuel prices are the key driver. We have seen these fluctuations before. Whenever fuel prices spike there is a big move from trucks back into cars.
Are you concerned about what President-elect Donald Trump is saying about raising tariffs on imported vehicles and auto components and creating trade barriers?
We have not had the chance to sit down with the president-elect or the new administration and really take them through our business. We have a great story to tell. Our business is a very capital intensive business, it is a very complex business.
We like to build where we sell. That’s the automotive business model. [GM Chief Executive] Mary [Barra] has been invited to sit on one of these key strategy forums so we will have a voice at the table. We have lot in common with their objectives. We also believe that a strong, world-class, manufacturing base is good for America and the automotive industry. It is going to take some time to get them to understand our industry and the complexities of it.
GM trails both Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Ram brand when it comes to commercial trucks. What is your plan to grow the commercial business?
We have a joint venture agreement running with [medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturer] Navistar to produce a medium truck. It will give us the full lineup. What we see is that fleet customers want to have a manufacturer that can offer them the whole range. They like to keep things very simple. It is an area where we have an opportunity.
Do you expect either an easing of fuel economy regulations or a pause in the scheduled increases under a Trump administration?
We haven’t discussed it with them. But there are a couple of things I would say. No. 1 is that we do believe in global warming. We do believe that we have a huge responsibility and we want to step up to it. The question is how fast and how affordable will it be for customers? The last thing we want to do is have a regulatory environment that forces very expensive equipment on customers. That potentially means that less people can afford to buy. Vehicles will stay on the road longer and that has a very negative effect on what we are trying to achieve [because older vehicles produce more greenhouse gases than newer ones.]
We believe there is an opportunity to get better alignment and synergy. But we are not coming off our responsibility. We are capable of meeting the requirements. But is it in the customer’s best interest and the economy’s best interest to be forcing the technology that fast?
Many trucks are over 15 years old. The last thing we want to do is have a regulatory environment that means that people hold their vehicles longer and the old vehicles on the road become even more aged. That’s bad for everybody.


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Cashing in on India’s growing digital payments sector, search engine giant Google has launched it’s own payments app. Named ‘Tez’, the app is available for Android and runs on the National Payment Corporation of India’s (NPCI)‘s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
The app functions like a regular app but includes a new ‘Cash Mode’ for secure transactions. Google’s blog post claims that it uses a proprietary technology called AudioQR to pair nearby devices using audio signals which can be used to pay without having to give out details about the account.
Google has also announced that there will be newer features such as card-based payments in the near future and that the app is part of their efforts to building a ‘cashless India’ as part of Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India programme.
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Not long ago, it was announced that there will be an event called Pokémon GO Fest to celebrate the first anniversary of the game. Not much about the event was revealed at the time, except that it will be a real-world event, as opposed to an in-game event. Recently, however, we got some details about what the event will entail as tickets for the event went on sale. And then tickets sold out within thirty minutes of becoming available.
So what would you have been able to experience had you been able to get a ticket? For one thing, the official Pokémon GO website promises “increased Pokémon encounters,” which will include “some [Pokémon] that have never been seen before in Grant Park” (Grant Park, Chicago, IL is where the event is taking place). A picture of a Heracross next to this bit of information implies that normally region-specific Pokémon may be found in Grant Park during the event. All region-specific Pokémon, and where they can currently be found, are as follows:
- Farfetch’d (Asia)
- Kangaskhan (Australia)
- Mr. Mime (Europe)
- Tauros (North America)
- Heracross (South America and Florida)
- Corsola (in areas with latitudes between 26° and 31°)
There will also reportedly be challenges that unlock in-game rewards that will be available to both players at the park as well as players around the world. Attendees can receive an “exclusive Pokémon GO Fest Chicago medal” for their profiles. There will be added PokéStops in Grant Park that will give players “special 2 km Eggs.” What a “special 2 km Egg” is is not specified, but it may be similar to the Egg event earlier this year that allowed Pokémon not usually found in 2 km Eggs to hatch from them. Grant Park will also have three Team Lounges, one for each team, where players can chill out and meet other members of their teams. The event will also have various photo opportunities around the park.
If you can’t make it to the event (and you likely can’t, since tickets are already sold out), then fret not. The Pokémon GO website asks you to “stay tuned for how to participate in Pokémon GO Fest,” even if you are not physically there.
- This article was updated on:July 6th, 2017


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CN recognized as leader for corporate environmental action
29 Jan, 2018, 16:45 ET
MONTREAL, Jan. 29, 2018 /CNW/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) has been identified as a global leader for its actions and strategies to manage environmental issues, and has been awarded a position on the Supplier A List by CDP, the non-profit global environmental disclosure platform.
One hundred companies appear on the A List, which has been produced at the request of 99 CDP supply chain purchasing member organizations with a combined annual spend of over US$3 trillion.
More than 4,800 companies submitted annual supply chain disclosures to CDP in 2017 for independent assessment against its scoring methodology. CN is among the two per cent of organizations participating in CDP's supply chain program to be awarded a position on the Supplier A List, in recognition of its actions to address climate change.
"We are pleased to be recognized by the CDP for CN's leadership on climate action in our customers' supply chain," said Luc Jobin, CN president and chief executive officer. "Shipping by rail reduces greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 75 per cent versus truck. CN works with our customers to offer the environmental benefits of rail, providing solutions to reduce their transportation supply chain emissions, while playing our role as a backbone of the economy."
The Supplier A List is released today in Closing the Gap: Scaling up sustainable supply chain practices, CDP's Global Supply Chain Report 2018, written by CDP using analysis provided by McKinsey & Company. The report reveals that awareness of climate change-related risks and opportunities is increasing across the supply chain. Over three quarters (76 per cent) of suppliers responding to CDP have identified some inherent climate change risks to their business and more than half (52 per cent) report that they have integrated climate change into their business strategy.
"We congratulate the 100 companies recognized on the CDP Supplier A List 2018 that are leading the way to our low-carbon and water-secure future," said Paul Simpson, CDP's chief executive officer. "Environmental action has never been more vital, nor urgent, and companies have a crucial role to play in keeping up the momentum needed to meet the aims of the Paris Agreement.
"The leadership shown by the A List not only points the way for other companies to take action, but also ensures that these leaders are getting well ahead of the curve and positioning themselves to capitalize on the opportunities that await," Simpson added.
CDP is an international non-profit that drives companies and governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. Voted number one climate research provider by investors, CDP leverages investor and buyer power to motivate companies to disclose and manage their environmental impacts. The Supplier A List is available on CDP's website.
CN is a true backbone of the economy whose team of approximately 24,000 railroaders transports more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries – serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information about CN, visit the Company's website at www.cn.ca.
CN and Sustainability
Delivering Responsibly is one of the pillars of what CN stands for. It determines how we conduct our business every day and defines our contribution to building a more sustainable future. A member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, CN's sustainability commitment is anchored in environment, safety, people, community and governance. CN trains are four times more fuel efficient than trucks, reduce highway congestion and air pollution, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
For further information: Contacts: Media: Patrick Waldron, Senior Manager, Media Relations, (514) 399-8803; Investors: Paul Butcher, Vice-President, Investor Relations, (514) 399-0052
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Nice shot, JC.
This looks great!
A construction worker died after he was struck in the head by an anchoring bracket that fell from the building’s roof in Chelsea Monday morning, according to the Department of Buildings.
Krawczyk Przemyskaw, 34, was found unconscious at about 8:40 a.m. at 61 Ninth Ave., on the corner of West 15th Street and Ninth Avenue, cops said.
An anchoring bracket that had been supporting a suspended scaffolding above roof level came loose, DOB officials said. The bracket fell, striking Przemyskaw in the head as he stood on a sidewalk extension, according to the agency.
He was pronounced dead at Lenox Hill Hospital, an NYPD spokesman said.
“This tragedy appears to have been completely preventable and we are taking enforcement actions against all parties involved, including a full stop-work order at the site,” DOB said in an emailed statement. “We are working closely with law enforcement on the incident. Additional penalties are pending the conclusion of this incident.”
On a brighter note, this building is beautiful. Vinoly uses very high-quality materials. 125 Greenwich, like his Fifth Avenue tower in NoMad, will surprise a lot of people.
This is looking good. It goes well with that nice hotel on west 15th that is almost complete
I never noticed this modern addition across the street next to google. Looks pretty cool.
@JC_Heights that’s The Porter House by SHoP. One of the first things they’ve done that really got them started here in NYC.
Nice shot, Brome.
This looks great.
Great shots , JC!
The Starbucks Reserve Roastery — the most luxurious way to get a grande — opens its fourth global location this Friday, December 14 at 61 Ninth Ave., at 15th Street, in Chelsea.
NYC is the fourth of six planned roasteries across the world, with others in Seattle, Shanghai, and Milan. Tokyo and Chicago are next up for this new style of store that’s reportedly meant to “differentiate” Starbucks from other global coffee chains like Lavazza.
It’s nearly a whopping 23,000-square-foot bid, including five bars: two for coffee, and one each for cocktails, takeaway beans, and pastries. The space here is full of New York design details spread across a working coffee roaster, tubes in the ceiling that carry freshly roasted beans to the coffee bar, tons of seating, 10 bathrooms, and every kind of coffee brewing style one can imagine. Everything is subtle, though.
“New Yorkers are sophisticated, so we didn’t want to hit them on the head [with NY references],” Starbucks Roastery concept design vice president Jill Enomoto says.
Princi, a “boutique” bakery founded by a Milan-based baker, will serve as the food purveyor. The bakery will offer on-site freshly baked goods, salads, pizzas, focaccias, and desserts.
The craft cocktail bar Arriviamo Bar will feature “expert mixologists” who will serve coffee and tea cocktails, like the Nocino Notte, a cold brew coffee and gin drink.
Today. I’m kicking myself for not checking out that new Starbucks in there. Looks pretty cool from the pics above- next time…
Another gem for the area.


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The battle in the freezer case is heating up. That means more bad news for Big Food.
A small but growing pair of upstarts is grabbing market share as Nestlé and Unilever, reigning emperors of ice cream, watch their brands slump.
Now the newbies themselves are going head to head. Yasso, the maker of frozen Greek yogurt bars, is launching a line of pints in a direct challenge to Halo Top, the low-calorie ice cream whose sales ballooned to nearly $300 million last year.
Yasso hopes to attract fickle customers who want to eat healthier but are also drawn to indulgence.
Yasso, which surpassed $75 million in retail sales last year, catapulted into view a few years ago when its bars were spotted in a picture posted on Facebook by football star Tom Brady, famous for his finicky, health-conscious eating.
The company thinks fans of low-calorie ice cream - Halo Top pints average about 300 calories - will gravitate toward a product with fewer calories than a comparable helping of Ben & Jerry’s, but offering a touch more decadence than healthier Halo Top.
“People get fatigued when they realize it doesn’t taste good,” said Drew Harrington, who runs the Quincy, Massachusetts-based company along with co-founder Amanda Klane. “We think they’ll be more interested in consuming Yasso over some of those diet brands.”
The new Yasso pints have between 400 and 600 calories and feature ingredients like brownie chunks, caramel swirls and cookie dough.
The company isn’t explicitly pushing a pint as a serving size, but it credits Los Angeles-based Halo Top with convincing people that it’s not the start of a shame spiral to inhale a whole pint in a single sitting.
“I used to think a full pint was only for my sad nights,” Klane said.
Halo Top combines low calories with a savvy social-media presence and flashy packaging. Sales soared more than 1,600% last year.
Yasso sales rose 22% last year, according to data from IRI, a Chicago-based market-research company. Its bars will be available in more than 15,000 stores nationwide this year.
Many longtime staples made by the giant food companies - brands that were dominant for decades - are falling out of favour.
Over the past three years, the 10 largest US packaged-food companies have seen about $17 billion in sales evaporate. That comes as consumers move to niche brands and trendy new products.
The ice cream war shows why Big Food is struggling: Even when the behemoths try to make healthier versions of their products to compete with the new kids, the new kids usually get the credit.
Last year, standbys like Nestlé’s Drumsticks and Unilever’s Klondike bars saw sales fall. Skinny Cow, a dessert brand owned by Nestlé, saw sales dip 17% in the year that ended November 5, according to IRI.
Of course, America’s leading ice cream companies aren’t on the verge of surrender. Last year, Unilever’s ice cream sales were $3.6 billion and Nestlé’s were $2.2 billion, according to Euromonitor.
Nestlé brands include Dreyer’s and Edy’s. Unilever makes Breyer’s and Ben & Jerry’s.
Yasso hit shelves in 2011. At the time, the Greek yogurt craze was in full swing, thanks to Chobani. Yasso started with fruit flavors that were about 70 calories a bar, and Harrington said they were constantly asked about chocolate and other indulgences like mint chocolate chip and cookie dough. Yasso eventually embraced them, and now they’re putting them into pint containers.
“Frozen is probably one of the more difficult places to launch a new product, but if you can show growth,” supermarkets will make precious space available, said John Stanton, a professor of food marketing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. “A lot of these older brands aren’t growing at all.”


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In a statement, International Paper (IP) confirmed that it has made a proposal to acquire Smurfit Kappa. However, IP said, it disagrees with Kappa’s comments in an earlier statement that…
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According to the National Small Business Association, 59% of America’s small businesses depended on credit cards for their daily operations in April (up 15% from last year). Although small business credit accounts for roughly 11% of the revenue for Visa and MasterCard, as reported by David Robertson of The Nilson Report, the credit card industry cannot afford to take risks with struggling companies.
As mentioned in a previous factoring blog post, New Credit Card Reform Law Excludes Small Business Cardholders, President Obama’s recent credit card reform plan does not include small business cards. However, there has been a congressional push to extend the reforms to small businesses, which limit extreme fees and interest rate hikes, but it will be a stretch when considering the delinquency rate among small businesses recently exceeded 12% (2% higher than the consumer delinquency rate).
The recent small business credit card changes are quickly affecting business owners’ ability to operate. According to an article from The New York Times entitled “A Credit Squeeze for Small-Business Owners”, Floridian Jeannie Macone, who owns a home décor business, saw her interest rate jump to over 30% as well as her credit limit plummet to a measly $5,000.
Even though small business credit card financing is becoming harder to obtain, there is still one viable funding option available to small business owners trying to grow– Factoring. Instead of waiting weeks or months to be paid by their customers, medical staffing and medical billing start-up companies could sell their receivables to a factoring firm and receive cash immediately.
What’s more, since banks are decreasing credit lines and raising the interest rates for small business credit cards, they will be looking for a new way to finance their business. So keep in mind that factoring brokers and cash flow consultants have an excellent opportunity right now to find new business and earn factoring commissions.


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THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the rules on crowdfunding to help startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) gain access to funding.
This move will allow financial opportunities for startups and small businesses in Cebu, said Maria Elena Arbon, assistant regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7, Thursday, July 11, 2019.
“The new crowdfunding rules is a welcome development. It is also a signal that the government is opening up to new business models brought about by technological developments,” she said.
Crowdfunding, as defined by the SEC, is a fundraising activity conducted through an online platform usually for startups and SMEs.
“It’s more on the investment side like securities, and this is good because this opens up investing down to the grassroots through crowdfunding platforms and apps. As long as the platforms adhere to SEC rules then we can assume that investors are protected,” Arbon said.
With this, start-ups can now gain traction in their businesses through the help of an investor or group of individuals willing to pool money with interests in return.
On July 4, SEC approved the rules and regulations governing crowdfunding in accordance with Republic Act 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code, and international best practices and standards.
“Information and communication technology has made a significant impact on our financial environment. With the rules and regulations governing crowdfunding in place, the Commission hopes to support recent financial innovations on providing easier access to finance especially for smaller business startups or ventures while ensuring the integrity and fairness of financial systems and the protection of investors,” said SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino, in a statement.
The fundraising approach involves three parties, namely: the entrepreneur or project initiator; the supporters or those willing to fund the entrepreneur’s business idea or project; and the platform or moderating organization that brings the entrepreneur and supporters together to realize the business idea or project.
Supporters make their contributions or donations through online platforms. The platforms will then coordinate and administer the fundraising activities.
“So the benefit will be on both sides of the coin. Those who are looking for investment opportunities are protected while SMEs and startups will be able to raise funds through the crowdfunding platforms,” Arbon said.
The DTI officials said there are about 30 to 50 startups in the region. Arbon said they are constantly doing networking programs as well as coordination with other government agencies to aid in the balance of brick-and -mortar businesses and the start up ecosystem. (JOB)


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European Parliament's latest revision of the ETS texts offers shipping a chance to pass the costs of being in an ETS to charterers and those more responsible for fuel decisions
Shipping has not yet learned to speak in one voice. The latest announcements from the European Parliament has exposed deep differences on who pays for shipping’s decarbonisation as European Shipowners, including the Greek shipowners have come out in favour of the changes, while the major container lines have opposed it.
The differences in how shipping should pay for cleaning up its emissions comes barely two months after COP 26 and a general feeling that the industry had managed to sound more in charge of its future than it ever had been.
What the shipowners have said
The back ground to this rift in opinion are plans for Europe to draw shipping into its emission trading scheme and then use the revenues it generates from high polluting vessels to create a specialised fund. The changes to the ETS have been a long time coming and widely seen as either the stepping stone to a global system, or the premise of a regional patchwork of market based measures should the member states and various lobby groups that send delegates to the IMO’s marine Environment protection committee continue to procrastinate about their intentions for international shipping.
The European Union does not have to work to the rules of the IMO (a UN agency) and can set more direct regulation, which it is doing, notably under its Green Deal policy drive. The revision of its Emission Trading Scheme, while delayed, is set to see emissions from ships fall into it.
The latest proposal from the parliament on the ETS revision suggests: “The shipping company is not always responsible for purchasing the fuel or taking operational decisions that affect the CO2 emissions of the ship. Those responsibilities can be assumed by an entity other than the shipping company under a contractual arrangement.
In that case, in order to ensure that the polluter pays principle is fully respected and to encourage the uptake of efficiency measures and cleaner fuels, a binding clause should be included in such arrangements for the purpose of passing on the costs so that the entity that is ultimately responsible for the decisions affecting the CO2 emissions of the ship is held accountable for covering the compliance costs paid by the shipping company under this Directive.”
This entity would normally be the entity that is responsible for the choice and purchasing of the fuel used by the ship, or for the operation of the ship, as regards, for example, the choice of the cargo carried by, or the route and speed of, the ship”
This, for many shipowners may be good news as it gives them a legal text to get charterers and cargo owners to pay for CO2 allowances and monies needed to be paid. For container lines on international trade, somewhat more problematic. However it has to be remembered that shipping companies have been passing on fuel price hikes through bunker adjustment charges for many years and the industry has been able to pass on costs to forwarders and cargo owners fairly quickly.


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Apple Inc. Q2, a Gimmickry to Hide Stunted Growth
By Athena Yenko | April 28, 2014 1:38 PM EST
"We're very proud of our quarterly results, especially our strong iPhone sales and record revenue from services. We're eagerly looking forward to introducing more new products and services that only Apple could bring to market," Tim Cook said during Apple Inc.'s announcement of its second quarter fiscal year.
The company generated revenue of $45.6 billion and quarterly net profit of $10.2 billion, or $11.62 per diluted share.
"We generated $13.5 billion in cash flow from operations and returned almost $21 billion in cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the March quarter. That brings cumulative payments under our capital return program to $66 billion," said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's CFO.
"We are announcing a significant increase to our capital return program. We're confident in Apple's future and see tremendous value in Apple's stock, so we're continuing to allocate the majority of our program to share repurchases. We're also happy to be increasing our dividend for the second time in less than two years," Cook said.
Apple Inc also announced the $130-billion capital return programme and the surprising seven-for-one stock split.
However, for analysts who had been keeping Apple Inc. on watch for years, the company's reported revenue was relatively small as compared to how the profit was growing during Steve Jobs' leadership. The stock split and buyback programmes were both an implication of Apple's stunted growth in innovation.
For Jonathan Trugman, writing for the New York Post, Apple Inc.'s Q2 is all financial gimmickry, specially its announced buyback programme and stock split.
Apple's move to buy back stock was a move to cover the fact that the company had not been producing innovative products.
While the buyback programme was a smart financial strategy for the company, it still does not address the bigger problem facing Apple - the lack of new products after Jobs' death.
And while Amazon, Google and Facebook were spending billions buying companies that will be instrumental to their technological advancement, Apple was dilly-dallying repurchasing stocks.
"But a technology company buying back its own stock is essentially buying back time it has lost by not being innovative enough. Perhaps it's being used as a tool to smooth out the fact that Apple's growth has slowed as its new-product development has stalled. Jobs would have rather run through hot coals than buy back stock or pay a dividend," Trugman wrote.
Joan Lappin, contributor for Forbes, noted that back then, Apple Inc used to surprise fans with new unimaginable products. However, for the recent announcement, the surprise hinges on the company's impressive sale of outdated iPhone 4s in China. This only goes to say that sales for Apple's newer products "were not so great" and binging on sales of old units could only save the company in few years.
"The 4s drove iPhone sales up 28% in China and good that it did. Phone devices are now about 57% of all of Apple's sales. If they can't maintain that juggernaut without resorting to sales of an old device in new lands, they are in for some serious problems down the road as competition increases from Android and now Microsoft since its purchase of the Devices and Services Business of Nokia on April 25th."
Toni Sacconaghi, an analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein, predicts that Apple's slow growth will continue in the years to come.
"If Apple grew the next five years like it did the previous five years, it would be approaching the G.D.P. of Australia. Psychologically, it's more the issue that here is this incredibly high-flying company two years ago growing at 50 percent or more. And now, at least in this given quarter, it's basically not growing," Sacconaghi said.
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The World Gold Council to showcase a selection of the most desirable and fashionable jewellery for the next generation at the India International Jewellery Show 2011
Published 29 July, 2011
The World Gold Council today announced that it will present an exclusive viewing of jewellery aimed at the younger consumer at the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) 2011. The exhibition will showcase cutting edge fashion alongside timeless beauty, resulting in an aspirational selection for the contemporary Indian woman.
The combination of jewellery that will be on display has been specially selected from pieces made by Amrapali Jewelers and Derawala Jewelers, along with some tantalising designs by renowned jewellery designer Pallvi Foley. Crafted in 18K and 22K gold, the range of pieces with their chic designs and superior finish, would make for an ultimate gift or treasured self-purchase.
David Lamb, Managing Director, Jewellery at the World Gold Council, commented:
“Gold has never been so desirable nor so valuable, and the selection of jewellery that we will be bringing to the show offers today’s Indian woman an opportunity to both make a stunning fashion statement whilst also investing in a piece of enduring value. These are pieces for now and forever.”
In addition, the World Gold Council will also showcase the Gold Expressions 2011 collection in India for the very first time. Gold Expressions 2011 is a collection representing the extraordinary heritage and craftsmanship by the finest gold jewellers of Italy, and was first revealed at the Vicenza Fair in Italy in January this year.
Visit the World Gold Council at IIJS 2011 from 4th to 8th August, and take inspiration from the most majestic, glamorous gold pieces which will dictate the future of jewellery.
For further information please contact:
Hanmer MSL Communications Pvt. Ltd
T +91 9820048434


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An international push continues for the adoption of safe cargo-packing practices to avoid the loss of billions of dollars worth of goods and equipment annually in preventable accidents.
Five international freight transport and cargo-handling organizations collaborated on the newly released CTU Code: A Quick Guide, which condenses their advice on the packing of all types of cargo into 13 pages, and the Container Packing Checklist, which itemizes requirements for the packing of multimodal freight containers in a yes-or-no format.
The five groups — the Container Owners Association (COA), Global Shippers Forum (GSF), International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA), TT Club and World Shipping Council (WSC) — said in a media briefing Thursday that the guide is designed to improve awareness and understanding of good practices in the packing of goods in cargo transport units (CTUs).
They said many cases of ship fires and container stack failures, vehicle rollovers and train derailments can be traced to poor packing practices. Peregrine Storrs-Fox, the TT Club’s risk management director, said in April that the organization has estimated the international maritime industry alone incurs losses of about $6 billion each year because of incorrectly packed or documented cargo.
“That includes damage to the cargo and delays, environmental cleanup, injuries and ship damage. The point is that $6 billion is totally unnecessary. If people followed things correctly, then that $6 billion would be saved to the entire industry,” he said then.
Storrs-Fox repeated that figure Thursday and said the TT Club, which provides insurance and related risk-management services to the international transportation and logistics industry, believes these accidents can be prevented. “The vast majority are avoidable by adopting established good practices,” he said.
The CTU Code was issued in 2014. Applying to packing and transport operations throughout the supply chain, the code was developed by the International Maritime Organization, International Labor Organization and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
In the years since the code was adopted, “we haven’t actually seen a significant improvement in the incident statistics. Certainly wherever we go, we see that a lot of people are not aware of the CTU Code at all,” Storrs-Fox said in April while discussing the launch of a cargo integrity campaign.
This week’s release of the guide and checklist are the latest steps taken as part of that campaign.
Richard Brough, the head of the ICHCA and moderator of Thursday’s web event, said it was clear from the number of cargo loss incidents that something more had to be done to attain adoption of the safety practices.
Storrs-Fox agreed, saying the TT Club had found “woeful ignorance” of the CTU Code.
The Quick Guide covers the end-to-end packing process and includes steps on securing cargo and the handling of dangerous goods.
Storrs-Fox was asked if adherence to the CTU Code could have prevented the massive explosion at the Port of Beirut on Aug. 4.
“All of these sorts of events take a very long time to understand precisely what’s happening,” he said. “That’s certainly the case with ship fires in recent years. They all take a long time to investigate. … But following each of those sorts of events, there should be added awareness and energy put to developing and following good practice.”
GSF Secretary General James Hookham called the checklist “a clear process map” for the packing of containers.
“There is a yes-or-no format and, upon successful completion, allows dispatch of a container,” he said.
Currently, the checklist is available as a PDF, but a mobile app is being considered, Hookham said.
The CTU Code itself is available in all six official U.N. languages — English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic — and work is underway to produce the printable guide and checklist in multiple languages as well.
One set of guidelines is important regardless of the language, Hookham said.
“The organizations found common ground,” he said. “We’ve got a job to do and working at it together I think is better than we would have done working at it individually.”
WSC Senior VP Lars Kjaer stressed that the work continues.
“On behalf of the World Shipping Council, I can assure … that this initiative that we are launching today is not the conclusion of the concern that the CEOs of my member companies have regarding container safety,” Kjaer said. “It is but one initiative among a plethora of initiatives that … we have been asked by our principals to become involved in.”